Bringing heat to the hexagon

Maure, who trains out of House of Tinkerbell (H.O.T) in Springs has only had two amateur fights thus far but says she is determined to pursue a career as one of EFC’s professional female fighters.

“Although every MMA fighter wants to turn pro, you need experience in the ring first.

“You can train for years but that experience is crucial so I’m hoping for at least three more amateur fights and then I’d like to go pro,” she says.

Addressing the speed of her possible ascent to the professional ranks, she comments that women are able to “go pro” far quicker than their male counterparts due to the small pool of female fighters in South Africa.

“For now I am gaining exposure and making a name for myself and then I’ll be pushing forward with my goal of turning pro,” Maure says.

Maure joined a boxing club in 2011 for self-defence, saying that it was a time when women were being attacked and “it was more for safety then anything else but my coach said I had good hands and should fight”.

She joined H.O.T’s JP Kruger four months later and within two months found herself in the hexagon for her first full-contact fight.

“I had my first kickboxing fight in October 2012 and it was the hardest I had ever been hit by a girl,” she says adding that after two more kickboxing fights she started training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu which evolved into MMA.

“When I started training in MMA I loved that I could stay standing instead of going down. so in January last year I decided to try make a career for myself in MMA since I’m not getting any younger.”

She has since had two MMA fights – a win and a lose.

She made her debut at Fight Stars 17 at the Hellenic Hall in Primrose on February 27 and won the fight by submission.

Her second fight was at the same venue on May 7 at Fight Stars 18 where she lost in what she describes as a controversial decision by the ref who “called the fight way too quickly”.

Maure says she hopes to be back in the ring for her next fight in August or September.

“Everyone’s goal in life is to do what they love because if you follow your passion it’s not a job.

“This is what I love and what I’d like to turn into my day job,” she says.

“I wouldn’t have my passion for this sport without JP and the H.O.T team and I am thankful to be blessed with the H.O.T family.”

JP says that Maure is a “super athlete who is definitely going to have a phenomenal amateur, and then one day in the future, professional career.

“In the team we don’t treat her as a girl, we treat her as a fighter and a pro athlete and she’s just phenomenal.

“She’s an all-round fighter, she has great ground game and brilliant striking,

“She puts in the hours and her hard work pays off.”